FIFA Youtuber Pleads Guilty To Charges Of Gambling

Following his plea, the judge has now hit Douglas with a £16,000 fine for his role in the operation of a site called FUT Galaxy, an unregulated gambling site not unlike the Counter Strike ones that came to light some months back.

Douglas and Rigby had both pleaded not guilty when the case was first brought against them in September last year.

Rigby was fined £24,000 for his part, while the pair must also pay the legal fees of the prosecution – £75,000 for Douglas and £150,000 for Rigby, who was fined a larger sum as he was found to be the site’s main operator.

FUT Galaxy encouraged gamers to bet FIFA’s virtual currency on the outcome of real football matches. The problem with that of course, is that kids under 18 could easily bet, and the currency could easily be exchanged for real world cash.

The Guardianreports that the site made over £96,000 in unregulated revenue while one 14 year old boy lost £586 in just a single day of betting.

Judge Jack McGarva said at sentencing:

The aggravating features of these offences are they were committed over a relatively long period of about six months. Children were gambling on your site. It’s impossible for me to know how many or the effect on them. In my opinion, both of you were aware of the use of the site by children and the attractiveness of it to children. At the very least, you both turned a blind eye to it.

Douglas then revealed on Twitter that he plans to explain ‘his side of the story’ in a YouTube video soon.